Curated list of awesome books and authors on libertarianism, anarcho-capitalism and austrian school of economics.

Ludwig von Mises, 1979

An introductory book suitable for anyone interested in free market economics. Very accessible, it is a good starting point for the Austrian School of Economics.

Frédéric Bastiat, 1849

An introductory book and critique of regulation and the use of legislation by authorities. Your criticism is very current even for a book written more than 150 years ago. It is especially good for lawyers and people interested in legislation from a libertarian perspective.

Murray Rothbard, 1974

This is a simple and excellent book for deconstructing the aura of the state and starting to think objectively about your need. A good starting point for anarcho-capitalist ideas.

Murray Rothbard, 1963

An easy-to-read book that discusses the role of money in society, the banking system with its regulatory aspects, and the implications of Keynesian economics in society.

Carl Menger, 1892

This book is a discussion of something we hardly ever ask about its origins. Money. It is a simple and objective approach. Very useful to understand the origins of the gold standard.

Gustave de Molinari, 1849

This book is a pioneering case for security as a private service. It was written about a hundred years before the beginning of the development of anarcho-capitalism.

Lysander Spooner, 1867

This book aims to analyze how the American Constitution is enforced against the will of American citizens. And how this goes against people's rights, attacking the concept of the social contract.

Ludwig von Mises, 1920

The original paper that introduced the economic calculation problem argument in socialist economics. Very important from a historical and theoretical point of view.

Ayn Rand, 1957

Perhaps the most popular and influential book on the defense of liberty. This tale is a classic that hit the mainstream, the plot takes you back to the present day, when regulation and the state are stifling society and taking away the incentive to produce. The author uses the dialogues between the characters to introduce ideas favorable to the free market and the moral defense of liberty.

Ayn Rand, 1943

This book is a novel about a brilliant architect and his objective visions of the world. The difficulties that a person who only focuses on doing his job in the best way can face is the central theme. Highly recommended as a first contact with libertarian ideas or for those who just want to enjoy a good romance.

Ayn Rand, 1938

A short novel about a dystopian world where the state and collectivist ideas evolved in such a way that any form of individualism was forgotten by its inhabitants, reflected even in language. Until the rediscovery of ideas from the past by the protagonist.

Murray Rothbard, 1962

A treaty covering the whole economy, starting with pure free market economics and then discussing the effects of government intervention. This book started out as a Rothbard revision of Human Action by Mises, but introduces a number of new ideas. This is the most complete book on economics on this list.

Ludwig von Mises, 1949

This book is a masterclass in capitalism. Mises introduces praxeology and then uses to analyze the entire economy. It is the most influential book in the Austrian school of economics and a must-read if you are interested in these ideas.

Carl Menger, 1871

This book is considered the beginning of the Austrian School of Economics. Him introduces very important concepts that most if not all authors will follow. The book presents his pioneering work in the theory of value so far called marginal utility.

Murray Rothbard, 1973

This book is a good introduction and starting point to anarcho-capitalist ideas by its creator in simple terms with real-world examples.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2012

A collection of selected articles on varied topics that covers much of the author's thought, gives a broad view of various aspects of libertarianism, such as the evolution of primitive man, life in society, state intervention in the economy and questioning of state monopolies, up to autobiographical articles.

Murray Rothbard, 1995

Analyzes the history of economic thought before Adam Smith with an emphasis on a comparison with the current vision of the Austrian school of economics, studying Chinese philosophy, the Greeks, the scholastics, the mercantilists, as well as names such as Richard Cantillon, John Locke, Turgot and a lucid review of what Adam Smith really represented.

Murray Rothbard, 1995

In the second volume of this review of the history of economic thought, the focus is on the economists who came after Adam Smith, such as the French liberals J.B. Say, Frederic Bastiat and Gustave de Molinari, the utilitarian Jeremy Bentham, David Ricardo, John Stuart Mill and his son James Mill, as well as a detailed analysis of the origins of Marxism and personalities such as Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 1988

This book shows that there are only two economic systems. Capitalism and socialism. Everything else can be explained as a combination of these ideas.

Jesús Huerta de Soto, 2006

This treatise on economics is a rigorous analysis of central banks, policies of credit expansion and its effects on the economy.

It contains a historical study of how it was legally treated in the past fractional reserves, as legislation has changed since then, the emergence of central banks, to its present state.

Presents legal arguments for treating fractional reserves as a fraudulent practice, with or without the presence of a central bank.

Ludwig von Mises, 1922

This book is a complete analysis of socialism, where Mises presents his famous argument about the impossibility of economic calculation under socialism. It contains a lot of historical information, some ethical considerations, and a incredible defense of private property and capitalism.

Jesús Huerta de Soto, 1992

An Austrian analysis of socialist economics, it presents a new definition of socialism, theoretical advances from a business point of view, and the history of the economic calculus debate with arguments from both sides of the debate.

Ludwig von Mises, 1957

This book is a discussion of the methodology and philosophy of research in human sciences that introduces the term praxeology as the method of studying economics. It presents the problems of many methodologies used in current research and a strong defense of the Austrian method: the praxeology.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 1993

It is a collection of essays that gives the reader an overview of the author's economic views, discusses ethics, praxeology and economics.

Murray Rothbard, 1974

This book is a collection of essays by Rothbard, which discusses a variety of topics, in order to familiarize the reader with anarcho-capitalist ideas.

The book addresses the egalitarian ideas of the left, the state and its policies in war, over private property, women's and children's rights, rival ideologies and ideas to anarcho-capitalism and forms of action and posture by libertarians.

Ludwig von Mises, 1933

The methodology of economic science is discussed with an emphasis on value theory and a defense of rationalism, analysis of the foundations of sociology and current doctrines in the work of historians and applies a consistent analysis refuting socialist alternatives in these topics.

Bruce L. Benson, 1990

Arguments in favor of privatizing the legal system are presented, combined with historical examples and a theoretical discussion of the difficulties and possible ways to achieve the objective. A very complete book that aims to eliminate any doubt about the efficiency and superiority of the private sector in providing security and justice.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2021

Discusses the evolution of society from the primitive human collector, the role of the division of labor, technology and the market in social development, the social origins of the modern state and strategies for freedom.

Jörg Guido Hülsmann, 2008

An ethical discussion of the central bank's influence on the economy, and how it affects the time preference of the whole society.

Murray Rothbard, 1982

This book defines libertarian ethics, which involves applying the methodology developed by Mises (praxeology) in the field of ethics. It can be said that this work formally defines anarcho capitalism and the principle of non-aggression, in theory the only necessary book.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2001

This is the author's most influential book, a pioneering classic in questioning democracy as an optimal or ethical system. It presents the historical context of the flight from monarchies to democracy, and through the impossibility of limited government, shows the reader the alternative of a stateless society to freedom.

Ludwig von Mises, 1912

A work that forms the basis of the Austrian Theory of business cycles. The original approach to expanding credit and lengthening the supply chain has become the signature of Austrian economists.

Murray Rothbard, 1983

A very thorough discussion of banking that explains in depth how it works, the incentives involved, and the consequences for society.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2018

It develops the argument that conservative moral values combined with the Austrian school's understanding of economics is the correct path to libertarian moviment. An introduction to right-wing libertarianism or paleolibertarianism.

Israel Kirzner, 1978

This book is an analysis of the entrepreneur's role in balancing the market, brings elements of Mises's praxeology and Hayek's view on decentralized knowledge and spontaneous order.

Albert Jay Nock, 1935

This classic book presents the dichotomy in the way the state and the market obtains its resources, as irreconcilable forms of action, was very influential in development of libertarian ideas that came later.

Friedrich Hayek, 1944

This book shows how central planning always converges with authoritarianism and socialism. A good critique of Keynesian economics.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 1998

This little book contains some of Hoppe's ideas on libertarian action.

It discusses central themes such as the importance of influencing public opinion, the role of private security agencies and insurance companies in the provision of services of security, discrimination as a form of defense and the efficiency of services provided by the market.

Bruno Leoni, 1961

A study on the differences between laws obtained through market practices and laws obtained through state imposition, with historical analyzes and discussions of the implications for freedom and preservation of property rights, a classic that has an extremely simple and clear presentation of the legal system and its implications for the individual.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2014

This essay analyzes the evolution of medieval society, the transition to monarchy and finally to the modern state and democracy, addresses the topic from a historical point of view and the transition of the legal system, it can be seen as a condensed text in relation to the classic same author Democracy: The God That Failed.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 1995

This is an advanced book. For people interested in praxeology, epistemology and the scientific foundations of economics, humanities and a general discussion about the subject. This book is recommended for people who already understand Austrian school of economics reasonably well and want to have a better understanding of its fundamentals or people interested in methodology.

Karsten & Beckman, 2012

A very clear and concise analysis of democracy, the type of incentive it creates in the state and in the rulers, how this affects society's time preference.

It was written based on Hoppe's book Democracy: The God That Failed. As intended to be an introductory text on the subject.

Morris and Linda Tannehill, 1970

This book looks at the problems that aggression causes in society, shows how would a stateless society work (with some pioneering insights), and then discusses how to achieve this goal.

It's a great introduction to anarcho-capitalism, in very accessible language. This book was written with strong influence from the writings of Ayn Rand and Rothbard.

Mises, Haberler, Rothbard, Hayek, 1978

This book is a collection of four articles on Austrian business cycle theory. It is recommended for anyone interested in economic cycles and on the influence of central banks and Keynesian policies on the economy.

Friedrich Hayek, 1948

This book presents Hayek's views on social sciences metodology and how knowledge is decentralized and influence people's decision in the market, with criticism for central planing and socialism. This book is recomended for people interested in a criative view of market process.

Friedrich Hayek, 1976

This book presents ideas about free banking, private money and how to implement it in a world with central bank. Many ideas presented in this book are now seen in tech communities.

Samuel Edward Konkin III, 1986

One of the few pratical libertarian books, in this book Konkin introduces the Agorism. A life philosophy which is compatible with libertarian principles.

Samuel Edward Konkin III, 1980

This book is yet another Konkin presentation of his theory of libertarian action (known as agorism), which considers correct anarcho-capitalist ideas, and seeks a form of action consistent with these principles.

In this book, the focus is on discussing how individuals act to combat the current statist situation to the point of disconnecting from this reality.

Larken Rose, 2011

This book is an incredible discussion of the moral problems involved in blind obedience to political authority. It's a very easy read, not too rigorous, very good for the general public. The author fully understood the libertarian ethic and has created a very accessible book that will try to shock the reader from beginning to end.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2009

This book is a very short and concise presentation on strategies for coping and challenge the central government's monopoly on security and justice. Very little has been written about libertarian action, here we have a small discussion on the subject.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, 2015

An Austrian analysis of the evolution of man and his social organization from the beginning of communication with words to the post-industrial revolution era. And a reflection on what can be done to escape the inevitable decline we are undergoing as a species.

Stephan Kinsella, 2008

This book presents a discussion of ethical foundations on the legitimacy of intellectual property, in doing so he presents a revised discussion of some rothbard's popular ideas.

Walter Block, 1976

A book dedicated to the defense of professions with a bad reputation but which essentially exist to meet the existing demand in society, the author presents economic arguments and a coherent defense of individual freedom throughout the examples.

Michael Huemer, 2012

A commonsense analysis of what is morally acceptable to an individual and how political authority violates obvious and reasonable principles in human interaction.

Jörg Guido Hülsmann, 2008

This monograph reviews the definition of inflation and deflation. And it shows that the kind of market adjustment that deflation brings is beneficial to society and should not be feared.

George Selgin, 1990

A great analysis of Lachman and Kizner's debate on market equilibrium, where he refines Kizner's arguments and builds a case against the kaleidic future advocated by Lachman.

Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk, 1890

This book brings the history of economic theories and politics behind interest. It is a great exposition of the most populars ideas on interest, it presents great refutations on then and prepare the reader for his next book where he introduces his time preference theory.

David Friedman, 1971

A presentation of Anarcho-capitalism ideas using an utilitarian approach, which can be good as a first view on the topic.